Following Manchester City's 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has lauded City's recent acquisition, Antoine Semenyo, as potentially the "signing of the season". Semenyo, who joined City for a reported £65 million, made an immediate impact, scoring the opening goal against Newcastle.

The Ghanaian international's debut performance has drawn considerable praise, with Redknapp highlighting Semenyo's ability to perform in big games. "Everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion, I'm not so sure," Redknapp said, before Semenyo signed for Man City, even suggesting that Liverpool could have been in the running.

Semenyo's goal came in the 54th minute, proving to be the difference in a tightly contested match at St. James' Park. He also had another goal disallowed for a controversial offside decision. Rayan Cherki sealed the victory with a late second goal, putting City in a commanding position ahead of the second leg.

Before joining Manchester City, Semenyo played for Bournemouth, where he had a strong season, scoring a late winner against Tottenham. His form had attracted attention from several clubs, but City moved swiftly to secure his signature.

The victory against Newcastle gives Manchester City a significant advantage as they aim to defend their Carabao Cup title. However, the match wasn't without controversy, with City manager Pep Guardiola expressing his frustration with a VAR decision that ruled out Semenyo's second goal.

Despite the disallowed goal, Semenyo's performance has been widely praised, and Redknapp's assessment underscores the potential impact the forward could have for Manchester City this season. Semenyo's arrival could provide City with an added dimension in their attack, offering a different profile to their other forward options.

The second leg of the semi-final will be played on February 4th.